Many readers mis-understand the Couch Potato Portfolio, my low-cost and simple approach to investing. Every year brings letters and e-mails from readers asking exactlywhich fund should be used and exactlywhat percent of their money should be invested in it. Like nervous cooks, the letters make it sound as though something terrible will happen if the formula isn’t followed with utmost precision. The world will end; the soufflé will fall.
That’s not what Couch Potato investing is all about.
Thankfully, a new book makes it all clear, The Lazy Person’s Guide to Investing. It will help everyone understand how to be a Couch Potato Investor (and why) whether their portfolio consists of only two funds or nearly a dozen. If learning how to be a better investor was one of your New Year Resolutions, this book is core knowledge. It’s also a very easy read. Written by CBS Marketwatch columnist Paul B. Farrell and published by Warner Business Books, the $19.95 paperback (303 pages) starts with Mr. Farrell’s survey asking readers to vote which portfolio should win the “Laziest Portfolio Oscar.”
The Couch Potato Portfolio won.
Does that mean it is the best and only way to invest?
No, but it’s a very good start. What Mr. Farrell shows is that you can be a low-cost, low-turnover, index investor with anywhere from two to nearly a dozen funds in your portfolio. He also says you can do it with the growing legion of Exchange Traded Index Funds.
What’s the difference between two funds and many?
Execution.
The two-fund portfolio is easy to implement. Anyone can do it. The more funds you use, the more complicated tracking and managing your portfolio will be. The other portfolios will have more diversification (and possibly less risk) but they will also require more work because they involve percentages.
Let’s face it; talking about percentages remains one of the fastest ways to empty a room anywhere in America.
So if you’ve been thinking about Couch Potato investing, read this book. You can start with the original Couch Potato Portfolio and then, as the spirit moves you, expand your portfolio to a broader array of asset classes. Doing so is likely to do two good things: reduce your risk and increase your long-term return.
If you like percentages, read on
If you are one of the few who will stay in the room while percentages are discussed, for instance, you can try the 7-fund Coffeehouse Investor portfolio. This portfolio is 40 percent Vanguard Total Bond Index (ticker: VBMFX), 10 percent Vanguard Index 500 (VFINX), 10 percent Vanguard Large Cap Value (VIVAX), 10 percent Vanguard Small Cap (NAESX), 10 percent Vanguard Small Cap Value (VISVX), 10 percent Vanguard International (VGTSX), and 10 percent Vanguard REIT Index (VGSIX).
You can also learn about William Bernstein’s 9-fund “Coward’s Portfolio.” Another 100 percent Vanguard portfolio, this one consists of 40 percent Short-Term Corporate Bond Index (VFSTX), 15 percent Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX), 10 percent Small Cap Value (VISVX), 10 percent Value Index (VIVAX), 5 percent European Stock Index (VEURX), 5 percent Pacific Stock Index (VPACX), 5 percent REIT Index (VGSIX), 5 percent Small Cap Index (NAESX), and 5 percent Emerging Markets Index (VEIEX).
The common denominator
The common denominator is low cost and diversification. Wall Street is willing to sell us diversification because it also allows them to increase their commissions and fees.
What Wall Street won’tsell us is low costs.
One of the really nice tidbits —among many— in this book is Mr. Farrell’s mention of Paul Merriman’s “Explode Loads” page on his www.fundadvice.comwebsite. The Explode Loads page takes the 100 largest load funds and directs you to their corresponding no-load equivalents. Mr. Farrell, who isn’t afraid to do research, tested the four no-load funds offered as alternatives to 27 of the hundred largest load funds. He found that all four beat all 27-load funds.
The bottom line: if you’re looking for a good set of do-it-yourself investing tools, you’ll find them all in this book.
On the Web:
The Coffeehouse Investor Portfolio: http://www.coffeehouseinvestor.com/Returns.htm
Sunday, December 3, 2000, “The Couch Potato Portfolio, Plus”
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/scottburns/columns/archives/2000/001203SU.htm
The Journal of the Efficient Frontier: http://www.efficientfrontier.com/
Merriman’s Explode Loads: http://www.fundadvice.com/explode.html
This information is distributed for education purposes, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service.
(c) A.M. Universal, 2004